Vehicle user interface

ABSTRACT

The user interface has a display unit for displaying user-activatable functions, and a selecting and activating device for selecting and activating the functions and operating according to a selection scheme having four selection directions arranged in the form of a cross. The display unit has four display sectors for displaying respective functions, and which are selected by operating the selecting and activating device in the aforementioned selection directions, and are also arranged in the form of a cross corresponding with that of the selection directions.

The present invention relates to a vehicle user interface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is known, in the automotive industry, the current trend in the designof driver- or passenger-performable vehicle functions is increasinglytowards solutions characterized by a high degree of interaction betweenthe driver, passengers, vehicle and the outside world.

In particular, drivers and passengers are allowed an increasing amountof control over vehicle efficiency—e.g. air conditioning and stereosystems, etc.—and over interaction between the vehicle and the outsideworld—e.g. control of cellular phone calls, interference by cellularphones when listening to music, control of on-vehicle computerinformation, dialoguing with the navigation system, etc.

Increasing demand therefore exists for vehicle user interfaces designedto make interaction between the user and the vehicle as simple andimmediate as possible, so as not to distract the driver's attention fromthe road, and which at the same time are reconfigurable to accommodatefunctions not contemplated at the design stage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a reconfigurableuser interface designed to make interaction between the user and thevehicle as simple and immediate as possible.

According to the present invention, there is provided a vehicle userinterface, characterized by comprising display means for displayinguser-activatable functions, and selecting and activating means forselecting and activating said functions; said selecting and activatingmeans operating according to a selection scheme having a number ofselection directions arranged radially; and said display meanscomprising a number of first display sectors for displaying respectivesaid functions, and which are each selectable by activating saidselecting and activating means in a respective said selection direction,and are arranged in the same way as the respective said selectiondirections.

The present invention also relates to a vehicle user interfacecharacterized by comprising display means for displayinguser-activatable functions, and activating means for activating saidfunctions; said display means having a display area for displaying saidfunctions, and comprising a number of display sectors arranged side byside along an edge of said display area and each displaying a respectivesaid function; said activating means comprising a number ofpush-button-type activating elements, one for each said display sector,located adjacent to and corresponding with the respective said displaysectors, and each for activating a respective function displayed in therespective display sector; said activating means also comprising a shiftcontrol element for varying the functions displayed in said displaysectors according to a predetermined shift scheme.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred, non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings,in which:

FIG. 1 shows, schematically, the passenger compartment of a vehicleequipped with a user interface in accordance with a first embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the FIG. 1 user interface;

FIG. 3 shows a function menu displayable on a display unit forming partof the FIG. 1 user interface;

FIGS. 4-7 show different function menus displayable on the display unitforming part of the FIG. 1 user interface;

FIG. 8 shows the arrangement of selection buttons forming part of theFIG. 1 user interface;

FIG. 9 shows a function menu displayable on the display unit of a userinterface in accordance with a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 shows the arrangement of selection buttons forming part of theuser interface according to the second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 11 shows a function menu displayable on the display unit of a userinterface in accordance with a third embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 12 shows the arrangement of selection buttons forming part of theuser interface according to the third embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 13 shows the arrangement of a toggle-type selection button formingpart of the FIG. 1 user interface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows part of a vehicle passenger compartment 1 equipped with auser interface 2 in accordance with a first embodiment of the presentinvention, and the overall block diagram of which is shown in FIG. 2.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, user interface 2 substantiallycomprises a display unit 4, e.g. a liquid crystal display, fitted to thevehicle instrument panel 6 so as to be clearly visible by the driver andpassenger, and for displaying various function menus; a selection device8 for selecting and activating the functions displayed on display unit4, and which is located close to display unit 4 within easy reach ofboth the driver and passenger; a number of activating buttons 10 and ashift button 12, located adjacent to display unit 4 and for activatingfunctions displayed on display unit 4 in particular positions, asdescribed in detail later on; a memory 14 (FIG. 2) in which arememorized a number of data items displayable on display unit 4 in theform of function menus; and an electronic central control unit 16 (FIG.2) connected to display unit 4, to selection device 8, to activating andshift buttons 10, 12, and to memory 14, and for controlling operation ofuser interface 2 as described in detail below.

User interface 2 also comprises a number of control buttons 20 locatedon vehicle instrument panel 6, around selection device 8, and connectedto electronic central control unit 16 to activate, independently of thedisplayed function menu, general functions relating to control ofdisplay unit 4 and described in detail later on; a number of regulatingbuttons 22 located on the steering wheel 24 and connected to electroniccentral control unit 16 to make frequently-used elementary adjustments,such as radio volume and MUTING (deactivation of any devices with soundoutputs), etc.; and a keyboard 26 connected to electronic centralcontrol unit 16 and for entering data into memory 14.

Display unit 4 has a substantially rectangular display area fordisplaying various function menus selectable by the driver or passengerusing selection device 8.

FIG. 3 shows the main menu shown in the display area of display unit 4according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the display area 30 is divided into three displayregions: a top region 32 and a bottom region 34, each in the form of anelongated horizontal strip; and a rectangular central region 36occupying most of display area 30.

Central display region 36 is in turn divided into five sectors, asmarked out by the dotted lines in FIG. 3. More specifically, four of thefive sectors, indicated 42, 44, 46, 48, are arranged inside centraldisplay region 36 in the form of a Greek cross, while the fifth,indicated 40, is located in an intermediate position between sectors 42,44, 46, 48.

In the FIG. 3 example, display sector 40 shows the icon of an agenda,which, when selected, activates typical electronic organizer functions;and display sectors 42, 44, 46, 48 are headed “COMMUNICATE”, “COMFORT”,“TRAVEL” and “VEHICLE”, which, when selected, respectively activatefunctions relating to communication with the outside world (telephone,messages, Internet), motoring comfort (entertainment, audio,temperature), interaction between the vehicle and the outside world(navigation, remote toll, traffic and travel information), and vehicleefficiency control (maintenance, diagnosis, security, travel parametersettings).

Top display region 32 is divided into three horizontally side by side,substantially rectangular sectors : a central sector 50 convenientlyindicating the menu selected; a lateral sector 52 showing, for example,the time; and a lateral sector 54 displaying, for example, two GSM andGPS signal indications (ire. telephone signal intensity and coverage ofabsolute position detecting satellites)

Bottom display region 34 is divided into four horizontally side by side,substantially rectangular display sectors 60, 62, 64, 66 headed, forexample, “CHECK”, “TRIP”, “NAV”, “SMS”, which, when selected, activateso-called “soft-key” functions for respectively checking vehicleefficiency, operating the so-called on-vehicle computer, operating thenavigation system, and transmitting or receiving telephone messages.

The “soft-key” functions in display sectors 60, 62, 64, 66 are activatedby respective activating buttons 10, which, for immediate associationwith the respective functions, are located side by side, on instrumentpanel 6, along the bottom edge of display unit 4, each correspondingwith the display sector 60, 62, 64, 66 indicating the respectivefunction.

The functions shown in display sectors 60, 62, 64, 66 and activated bybuttons 10 are greater in number than display sectors 60, 62, 64, 66 andactivating buttons 10, and can be displayed and used by the driver usingshift button 12, which, when operated, displays and cyclically “shifts”the various functions in display sectors 60, 62, 64, 66.

Purely by way of a non-limiting example, FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7 show themenus shown in display area 30 when the “COMMUNICATE”, “COMFORT”,“TRAVEL” and “VEHICLE” items in the FIG. 3 main menu are selectedrespectively.

As can be seen, the menu items in central display area 36 in FIGS. 4-7are also arranged in the form of a Greek cross as in the main menu, andthe central display sector 50 of top display region 32 shows theselected main menu item to which the displayed menu refers.

Each of the displayed function menus need not necessarily have four, andmay have less than four, selection items, as shown, for example, inFIGS. 4 and 5, in which one of the display sectors—46 in the exampleshown—is blank.

The functions in display sectors 42, 44, 46, 48 are selected andactivated using selection device 8, shown in detail in FIG. 8, whichcomprises five selection buttons 70, 72, 74, 76, 78 arranged the sameway as display sectors 42, 44, 46, 48. More specifically, four of thefive selection buttons—indicated 72, 74, 76, 78—are arranged in the formof a Greek cross and provide for selecting the function menu items; andan activating button 70 is located in an intermediate position betweenselection buttons 72, 74, 76, 78, and provides for activating theselected function.

The matching arrangement of selection buttons 72, 74, 76, 78 and displaysectors 42, 44, 46, 48 indicating the various function menu items meanseach function menu item can be selected using one selection button, thusenabling fast, easy function selection and activation by both thepassenger and driver, while at the same time barely distracting thedriver's attention from the road.

The functions in each menu can be memorized extremely easily by thedriver, and continued use of user interface 2 eventually makes forspontaneous function selection and activation without distracting thedriver's attention from the road at all.

The five control buttons 20 around selection device 8 provide forperforming generic display unit 4 operating functions independently ofthe menu selected.

More specifically, control buttons 20 provide for returning to the mainmenu at any time and from any other menu; deactivating the currentlyactivated function and returning to the previous function; calling up ahelp menu relative to the function currently being selected by the user;turning off display unit 4 without deactivating user interface 2; andactivating the phone call function, which, being typically-the mostfrequently used, can be performed at any time and in any menu.

FIG. 9 shows the main menu shown on display unit 4 of a user interfacein accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention,

As shown in FIG. 9, the main menu in the second embodiment of thepresent invention only differs from that of the first embodiment in FIG.3 by display sectors 42, 44, 46, 48 being arranged about central displaysector 40 in the form of a St Andrew's as opposed to a Greek cross.

Consequently, for the arrangement of selection buttons 72, 74, 76, 78 ofthe selection device to match that of display sectors 42, 44, 46, 48,the selection device in the second embodiment of the presentinvention—here indicated 8′—is as shown in FIG. 10, in which the fourselection buttons 72, 74, 76, 78 are arranged in the form of a StAndrew's cross.

FIG. 11 shows the main menu shown on display unit 4 of a user interfacein accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 11, the main menu in the third embodiment of thepresent invention only differs from that of the first embodiment in FIG.3 by the display sectors about central display sector 40 being eight innumber and arranged radially.

More specifically, in addition to the “COMMUNICATE”, “COMFORT”, “TRAVEL”and “VEHICLE” items already described relative to the FIG. 3 functionmenu, the eight display sectors—indicated 80-87 in FIG. 11 —aboutdisplay sector 40 also show a further four items—in the example shown,“CALL”, “NUMBERS”, “SERVICES” and “OPTIONS”—which, when selected,activate respective functions not described in detail by not formingpart of the present invention.

Consequently, for the arrangement of the selection device selectionbuttons to match that of display sectors 80-87, the selection device 8″in the third embodiment of the present invention comprises, as shown indetail in FIG. 12, eight selection buttons 90-97 arranged radially andfor selecting function menu items, and an activating button 98 locatedin an intermediate position between selection buttons 90-97 and foractivating the selected function.

As can be seen clearly from a comparison of FIGS. 3, 9 and 11, the Greekand St Andrew's cross arrangements are also radial, though comprisingonly four as opposed to eight display sectors. Generally speaking,therefore, to more effectively communicate information to the user,numerous radial arrangements are possible, ranging from a “minimum”arrangement of two radial directions for selecting only two displaysectors about the central display sector, to more complex arrangementswith multiple radial directions for selecting respective display sectorsarranged radially about the central display sector.

The advantages of user interface 2 according to the present inventionwill be clear from the foregoing description.

In particular, the matching arrangement of the selection buttons and ofthe display sectors about the central display sector makes for fast,easy function menu item selection using only one selection button.

Accordingly, selection distracts the driver's attention to only a verylimited degree from the road, and even less as time goes by and thedriver becomes more familiar with the interface.

Moreover, the user interface according to the present invention ishighly reconfigurable by enabling both an increase in the number offunctions performable, and the inclusion of new functions notcontemplated at the design stage.

Clearly, changes may be made to the user interface as described andillustrated herein without, however, departing from the scope of thepresent invention.

For example, the selection devices may differ from those described and,in particular, be defined by any type of device operating according to aselection scheme with four directions in the form of a Greek cross,according to a selection scheme with four directions in the form of a StAndrew's cross, or according to a selection scheme with eight radialdirections.

In particular, each selection device may be defined, for example, by a“joystick” with a separate activating button; or by a four- oreight-direction toggle element (four directions for cross selectionschemes, and eight for radial selection schemes), i.e. having four oreight selection portions arranged in the form of a cross or radially,and itself defining the activating button or having a separateactivating button (see, for example, FIG. 13).

Display unit 4 may be a different type from the one described; displayunit 4 and the display area 30 defined by it may differ from thosedescribed; top and bottom display regions 32, 34 may be replaced withcorresponding vertical right and left display regions, in which case,activating buttons 10 would be arranged in a vertical column along the“soft-key” side of display unit 4; the display sectors into which topand bottom display regions 32, 34 are divided may differ in number fromthose described; top and bottom display regions 32, 34 may differ inshape from those described and, in particular, may be in the form of anundulated strip, so that display sectors 60, 62, 64, 66 are at differentheights as opposed to being aligned with one another; activating buttons10 may be located on the display unit itself as opposed to theinstrument panel; or the display unit may be a “touch-screen” type, inwhich case, the user interface will have no activating buttons 10.

It should also be stressed that the menu items and/or graphic symbolsshown in the various display sectors into which the display area isdivided, and described with reference to FIGS. 3-7, 9 and 11, are purelynon-limiting examples of the possible content of the display sectors,and vary according to the functions to be performed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vehicle user interface, characterized bycomprising display means (4) for displaying user-activatable functions,and selecting and activating means (8; 8′; 8″) for selecting andactivating said functions; said selecting and activating means (8; 8′;8″) operating according to a selection scheme having a number ofselection directions arranged radially; and said display means (4)comprising a number of first display sectors (42, 44, 46, 48) fordisplaying respective said functions, and which are each selectable byactivating said selecting and activating means (8; 8′; 8″) in arespective said selection direction, and are arranged in the same way asthe respective said selection directions.
 2. A vehicle user interface asclaimed in claim 1, characterized in that said selecting and activatingmeans (8; 8′) operate according to a selection scheme having fourselection directions arranged in the form of a cross.
 3. A vehicle userinterface as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said displaymeans (4) comprise four of said first display sectors (42, 44, 46, 48)arranged in the form of a cross.
 4. A vehicle user interface as claimedin claim 2, characterized in that said selecting and activating means(8) operate according to a selection scheme having four selectiondirections arranged in the form of a t-shaped cross.
 5. A vehicle userinterface as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that said firstdisplay sectors (42, 44, 46, 48) are arranged in the form of a t-shapedcross.
 6. A vehicle user interface as claimed in claim 2, characterizedin that said selecting and activating means (8′) operate according to ascheme having four selection directions arranged in the form of anx-shaped cross.
 7. A vehicle user interface as claimed in claim 6,characterized in that said first display sectors (42, 44, 46, 48) arearranged in the form of x-shaped cross.
 8. A vehicle user interface asclaimed in claim 2, characterized in that said selecting and activatingmeans (8; 8′) comprise four push-button-type selecting elements (72, 74,76, 78) arranged in the form of a cross.
 9. A vehicle user interface asclaimed in claim 8, characterized in,that said selecting and activatingmeans (8; 8′) also comprise a push-button-type activating element (70)for activating the selected function and located in an intermediateposition between said selecting elements (72, 74, 76, 78).
 10. A vehicleuser interface as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that saidselecting and activating means comprise a toggle-type selecting element(8; 8′) having four selection portions arranged in the form of a cross.11. A vehicle user interface as claimed in claim 1, characterized inthat said selecting and activating means (8; 8′) operate according to aselection scheme having eight selection directions arranged radially.12. A vehicle user interface as claimed in claim 11, characterized inthat said display means (4) comprise S eight of said first displaysectors (80, Be, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87) arranged radially.
 13. Avehicle user interface as claimed in claim 11, characterized in thatsaid selecting and activating means (8″) comprise eight push-button-typeselecting elements (90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97) arranged radially.14. A vehicle user interface as claimed in claim 13, characterized inthat said selecting and activating means (8″) also comprise apush-button-type activating element (98) for activating the selectedfunction and located in an intermediate position between said selectingelements (90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97).
 15. A vehicle user interfaceas claimed in claim 11, characterized in that said selecting andactivating means comprise a toggle-type selecting element (8″) havingeight selection portions arranged radially.
 16. A vehicle user interfaceas claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said display means (4) alsocomprise a second display sector (40) for displaying said functions andlocated in an intermediate position between said first display sectors(42, 44, 46, 48).
 17. A vehicle user interface for a vehicle,characterized by comprising display means (4) for displayinguser-activatable functions, and activating means (10, 12) for activatingsaid functions; said display means (4) having a display area (30) fordisplaying said functions, and comprising a number of display sectors(60, 62, 64, 66) arranged side by side along an edge of said displayarea (30) and each displaying a respective said function; saidactivating means (10, 12) comprising a number of push-button-typeactivating elements (10), one for each said display sector (60, 62, 64,66), located adjacent to and corresponding with the respective saiddisplay sectors (60, 62, 64, 66), and each for activating a respectivefunction displayed in the respective display sector (60, 62, 64, 66);said activating means (10, 12) also comprising a shift control element(12) for varying the functions displayed in said display sectors (60,62, 64, 66) according to a predetermined shift scheme.
 18. A vehicleuser interface as claimed in claim 17, characterized in that said shiftcontrol element (12) provides for shifting said functions displayed insaid display sectors (60, 62, 64, 66) according to a predetermined shiftscheme.
 19. A vehicle user interface as claimed in claim 18,characterized in that said predetermined shift scheme is a cyclic shiftscheme.
 20. A vehicle user interface as claimed in claim 17,characterized in that said display sectors (60, 62, 64, 66) are arrangedside by side along a bottom edge of said display area (30).
 21. Avehicle user interface as claimed in claim 17, characterized in thatsaid activating elements (10) and said shift control element (12) arelocated on an instrument panel of said vehicle.
 22. A vehicle userinterface, comprising: display means (4) for displaying user-activatablefunctions, and selecting and activating means (8; 8′; 8″) for selectingand activating said functions; said selecting and activating means (8;8′; 8″) operating according to a selection scheme having a number ofselection directions arranged radially to form a first pattern; saiddisplay means (4) comprising a number of first display sectors (42, 44,46, 48) for respectively displaying said functions, said first displaysectors being arranged radially to form a second pattern substantiallyidentical to said first pattern, each of said first display sectorsbeing selectable by activating a corresponding one of said selecting andactivating means (8; 8′; 8″) that is disposed in a location within saidsecond pattern that directly corresponds to the same location in saidfirst pattern.